Arabian Drag Racing League

The Arabian Drag Racing League is in its sixth season and attracts the ‘best 120 drag racers from around the globe’, according to Qatar Racing Club spokesperson Khalid Arif.

The Arabian Drag Racing League, organised by the Qatar Racing Club, is now in its sixth season, attracting over 120 participants from all over the globe.

Divided into 11 categories, the league goes on for six rounds and the driver atop the standings for each category after the final round is awarded a trophy and a $28,000 cash prize.

“We are the biggest drag racing league outside of the US which is why we manage to attract the best drag racers from around the globe,” QRC spokesperson Khalid Arif told Al Jazeera.

With the fastest cars reaching speeds in excess of 340kph - in just over 200 metres - the league is hugely popular among drag-racing fans who make the journey to Doha’s industrial area to catch a glimpse of the hugely modified vehicles.

And there is plenty of burning-rubber smell and deafening engine noise too..

The QRC employs over 100 staff on event days, including track marshalls and safety officers who have been professional trained by US experts.

The track is prepared before each race – staff spray water for the specially-manufactured tyres ahead of the ‘burnout’ that makes the tyres warmer and ready for the dash.

Special glue is applied to the track, termed ‘one of the fastest surfaces in the world’, and the glue and rubber help the cars stick to the surface during burnout and later.

Each race lasts for approximately 200 metres, the fastest cars covering the distance in just over 3.5 seconds and reaching speeds in excess of 340kph.

The organisers do not charge entry fee for participants – who range from Middle East to the US, Puerto Rico and UK – but every round winner is awarded $14,000 and the winner of the final gets $28,000 – all financed by the QRC itself.

The huge crowd, in excess of 1,000, is undeterred by the ear-blasting engine noise and the rubber fumes and is evidence enough of drag racing catching up with the masses.

Bikes are one of the 11 different racing categories but are not too far behind the cars – the fastest cover the 200m distance in just over four seconds and reach speeds of 282kph.

Live video, big screen, driver and vehicle details as well as audio commentary is provided to the participants as well as the spectators to keep them well-informed.

Drag racing does take a toll on the finances with teams needing to splash out in the region of $200,000 to make the ‘ride’ capable of taking on the world’s best.